Mitt Romney

===General election===
[[Nationwide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election|Polls consistently indicated]] a tight race for the November general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/07/7-points-that-could-tip-the-election-078105 |title=7 points that could tip the election|last=Haberman |first=Maggie |newspaper=[[Politico]]|date=July 5, 2012}}</ref> Negative ads from both sides dominated the campaign, with Obama's proclaiming that Romney shipped jobs overseas while at Bain Capital and kept money in offshore tax havens and Swiss bank accounts.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/us/politics/negative-ads-hit-at-identity-to-shape-race.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726071207/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/us/politics/negative-ads-hit-at-identity-to-shape-race.html |archive-date=July 26, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Negative Ads Hit at Identity to Shape Race for Presidency|first=Jeremy W.|last=Peters|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 25, 2012|page=A1}}</ref> A related issue dealt with Romney's purported responsibility for actions at Bain Capital after taking the Olympics post.<ref name="bg-paid" /><ref name="ap-exit" /> Romney faced demands from Democrats to [[United States presidential election#Financial disclosures|release additional years of his tax returns]], an action a number of Republicans also felt would be wise; after being adamant that he would not do that, he released summaries of them in late September.<ref name="pol-taxes11">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/09/romney-releases-2011-tax-returns-081528 |title=Mitt Romney releases 2011 tax returns|last=Gibson|first=Ginger|date=September 21, 2012|newspaper=[[Politico]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/us/politics/romney-steadfast-against-release-of-more-tax-returns.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719140130/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/us/politics/romney-steadfast-against-release-of-more-tax-returns.html |archive-date=July 19, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Romney Steadfast in the Face of Growing Calls to Release More Tax Returns|first1=Michael D.|last1=Shear|first2=Trip|last2=Gabriel|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> During May and June, the Obama campaign spent heavily and was able to paint a negative image of Romney in voters' minds before the Romney campaign could construct a positive one.<ref name="bg-retro"/>

In July 2012, Romney visited the United Kingdom, Israel, and Poland, meeting leaders in an effort to raise his credibility as a world statesman.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/10363621|title=Romney hails US-Polish ties during visit to Warsaw |agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=July 31, 2012|first=Kasie|last=Hunt}}</ref> Comments he made about the readiness of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] were perceived as undiplomatic by the British press.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/british-papers-blast-mitt-romney/ |title=British papers blast Mitt Romney|work=[[CBS News]]|date=July 26, 2012 |last=Condon|first=Stephanie}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/26/mitt-romney-olympics-blunder |title=Mitt Romney's Olympics blunder stuns No 10 and hands gift to Obama|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=July 27, 2012 |first1=Nicholas |last1=Watt |first2=Hélène |last2=Mulholland |first3=Owen |last3=Gibson}}</ref> Israeli Prime Minister (and former BCG colleague) [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] embraced Romney, though some Palestinians criticized him for suggesting that Israel's culture led to their greater economic success.<ref name="wt-trip">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/31/romney-touts-poland-economic-success-story/ |title=Romney's trip a bumpy ride |first=Seth |last=McLaughlin |newspaper=The Washington Times|date=July 31, 2012 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref>

On August 11, 2012, the Romney campaign announced Representative [[Paul Ryan]] of Wisconsin as his running mate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hunt |first=Kasie |title=It's Paul Ryan: Romney picks Wis. Rep. for No. 2 |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-sources-romney-intends-name-ryan-his-no-2 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=April 26, 2014 |date=August 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813212644/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-sources-romney-intends-name-ryan-his-no-2 |archive-date=August 13, 2012 }}</ref> On August 28, 2012, the [[2012 Republican National Convention]] in [[Tampa, Florida]], officially nominated Romney for president.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republican-delegates-nominate-mitt-romney/ |title=Republican delegates nominate Mitt Romney |work=[[CBS News]] |date=August 28, 2012 |last=Caldwell |first=Leigh Ann |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> Romney became the first LDS Church member to be a major-party presidential nominee.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://azstarnet.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/romney-s-nomination-seen-as-positive-for-mormons/article_5d7c8599-576d-524f-8a6b-df6cbe25b158.html|title=Romney's nomination seen as positive for Mormons|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[Arizona Daily Star]]|date=September 3, 2012}}</ref>

In mid-September, a video surfaced of Romney speaking before a group of supporters in which he said that 47% of the nation pays no income tax, are dependent on the federal government, see themselves as victims, and will support Obama unconditionally. He went on to say, "And so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/18/mitt-romney-secret-video|title=Mitt Romney under fire after comments caught on video|first=Ewan|last=MacAskill|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=September 17, 2012}}</ref><ref name="wapo-47">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/romneys-47-percent-comments-arent-going-away/2012/10/01/17604654-0be5-11e2-a310-2363842b7057_story.html|title=Romney's '47 percent' comments aren't going away, and they're taking a toll|first=Philip|last=Rucker|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 1, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/njvoices/2012/09/mitt_romney_and_the_47_percent.html |title=Mitt Romney and the 47 percent: Looking at the facts|newspaper=[[The Star-Ledger]]|location=Newark|date=September 18, 2012}}</ref> After facing criticism about the tone and accuracy of these comments, he at first characterized them as "inelegantly stated", then a couple of weeks later commented: "I said something that's just completely wrong."<ref name="nyt-deb1" /> Exit polls published following the election showed that voters never saw Romney as someone who cared about people like them.<ref name="bg-retro"/>

In an interview on CNN with Wolf Blitzer, Romney called Russia "our number one geopolitical foe".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitt-romney-russia-geopolitical-foe_n_1380801|title=Mitt Romney: Russia Is 'Our Number One Geopolitical Foe'|first=Luke|last=Johnson|date=March 26, 2012|website=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/mitt-romney-says-russia-is-no-1-geopolitical-foe|title=Mitt Romney Says Russia Is No. 1 Geopolitical Foe|website=[[ABC News]]|first=Emily|last=Friedman|date=March 26, 2012}}</ref> At the time an innocuous response to a foreign policy question, it became a focal point for Democratic attacks on Romney during the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/02/biden-democratic-attacks-romney-convention|title=Joe Biden leads Democratic attacks on Romney before Charlotte convention|first=Matt|last=Williams|date=September 2, 2012|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/03/29/romneys_russia_comments_reflect_long-held_distrust_113652.html|title=Romney's Russia Comments Reflect Long-Held Distrust &#124; RealClearPolitics|website=www.realclearpolitics.com}}</ref><ref name="mediaite.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/rothman-msnbcs-most-embarrassing-mockery-of-romneys-russia-warnings/|title=Rothman: MSNBC's Most Embarrassing Mockery of Romney's Russia Warnings|date=March 3, 2014}}</ref> Hillary Clinton, then secretary of state, called Romney's position "dated" and said Russia had been an ally in solving problems,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/04/hillary-clinton-calls-romneys-russia-comments-dated-updated-119292|title=Hillary Clinton calls Romney's Russia comments 'dated' (Updated)|first=Maggie|last=Haberman|website=[[Politico]]|date=April 2012 }}</ref> while Joe Biden, then vice president, accused Romney of having a "Cold War mentality" and being "uninformed" on foreign policy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 1, 2012|title=Biden and Clinton hit Romney for 'dated' comments on Russia|url=https://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/biden-and-clinton-hit-romney-for-dated-comments-on-russia/news-story/663701e4c6e6037ee3b78150a4c342e1|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=NewsComAu|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Biden, Clinton hit back at Romney|url=https://torontosun.com/2012/04/01/biden-clinton-hit-back-at-romney|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=torontosun|language=en-CA}}</ref> John Kerry, then a senator, called Romney's comments "breathtakingly off target"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/news/kerry-calls-romneys-russia-position-breathtakingly-off-target-111700259.html|title=Kerry Calls Romney's Russia Position 'Breathtakingly Off Target'|website=news.yahoo.com|date=May 25, 2012 }}</ref> and reiterated that position at the Democratic National Convention, saying, "He's even blurted out the preposterous notion that Russia is our number one political geopolitical foe."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Video: John Kerry Aims International Zingers at Mitt Romney|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/john-kerry-aims-international-zingers-mitt-romney-17177781|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=[[ABC News]]|language=en}}</ref> Romney defended his remarks, saying, "The nation which consistently opposes our actions at the United Nations has been Russia{{nbsp}}... Russia is a geopolitical foe in that regard",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/news/romney-keeps-attacks-russia-110836427.html|title=Romney Keeps Up Attacks on Russia|website=news.yahoo.com|first=Matthew|last=Shelly|date=June 19, 2012}}</ref> and continued to defend his position in the presidential debates.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2012/1023/In-debate-Romney-reiterates-Russia-is-geopolitical-foe-of-US|title=In debate, Romney reiterates Russia is 'geopolitical foe' of US|date=October 23, 2012|journal=The Christian Science Monitor}}</ref>

[[File:ElectoralCollege2012.svg|thumb|left|250px|alt=Colored map|Electoral College results]]

The first of three [[United States presidential election debates, 2012|2012 presidential election debates]] took place on October 3, in Denver. Media figures and political analysts widely viewed Romney as having delivered a stronger and more focused presentation than Obama.<ref name="nyt-deb1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/us/politics/for-obama-and-romney-campaign-gains-new-intensity-in-debates-wake.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005053248/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/us/politics/for-obama-and-romney-campaign-gains-new-intensity-in-debates-wake.html |archive-date=October 5, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Campaign Gains a New Intensity in Debate's Wake|first1=Jim|last1=Rutenberg|first2=Peter|last2=Baker|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2012/10/romneys_debate_performance_was.html |title=Romney's debate performance was presidential game changer, analysts say|newspaper=[[The Star-Ledger]]|location=Newark|date=October 5, 2012}}</ref> That debate overshadowed Obama's improved presentation in the next two debates later in October, and Romney maintained a small advantage in the debates when seen as a whole.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/25/usa-today-gallup-poll-debates/1657145/|title=Poll: An Obama comeback, but a Romney edge on debates|first=Susan|last=Page|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=October 25, 2012}}</ref>

The election took place on November 6, and Obama was projected the winner at about 11:14 pm Eastern Standard Time.<ref name="whio">{{cite news|url=http://www.whiotv.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/latest-presidential-vice-presidential-race-coverag/nSyhJ/|title=Latest: Obama, Biden declared winners|first=Mandy|last=Gambrell|publisher=[[WHIO-TV]]|date=November 7, 2012|access-date=November 7, 2012|archive-date=November 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110054850/http://www.whiotv.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/latest-presidential-vice-presidential-race-coverag/nSyhJ/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He won 332 electoral votes to Romney's 206. Romney lost all but one of nine [[battleground state]]s and received 47% of the popular vote to Obama's 51%.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/06/obama-defeats-romney-to-win-second-term-fox-news-projects/|title=Obama defeats Romney to win second term, vows he has 'more work to do'|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=November 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-biden-officially-win-second-term-20130104,0,5932518.story|title=It's official: Obama, Biden win second term|author=Memoli, Michael A.|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 4, 2013}}</ref> Media accounts described Romney as "shellshocked" by the result.<ref name="cbs-end">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57547239/adviser-romney-shellshocked-by-loss/|title=Adviser: Romney 'shellshocked' by loss|first=Jan|last=Crawford|author-link=Jan Crawford|work=[[CBS News]]|date=November 8, 2012}}</ref> He and his senior campaign staff had disbelieved public polls showing Obama narrowly ahead and had thought they were going to win until the vote tallies began to be reported on election night.<ref name="cbs-end"/> But Romney's [[get out the vote]] operation had been inferior to Obama's, both in person-to-person organization and in voter modeling and outreach technology<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-obama-campaign-won-the-race-for-voter-data/2013/07/28/ad32c7b4-ee4e-11e2-a1f9-ea873b7e0424_story.html|title=How the Obama campaign won the race for voter data|first=Dan|last=Balz|author-link=Dan Balz|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 28, 2013}}</ref> (the latter exemplified by the failure of the [[Project Orca]] application).<ref name="bg-retro">{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2012/12/23/the-story-behind-mitt-romney-loss-presidential-campaign-president-obama/OeZRabbooIw0z7QYAOyFFP/story.html|title=Mitt Romney was hesitant to reveal himself|first=Michael|last=Kranish|author-link=Michael Kranish|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=December 23, 2012}}</ref> In his concession speech to his supporters, he said, "Like so many of you, Paul and I have left everything on the field. We have given our all to this campaign. I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead this country in a different direction, but the nation chose another leader."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/06/14976592-victorious-obama-more-determined-in-face-of-challenges |title=Victorious Obama 'more determined' in face of challenges|first=Michael|last=O'Brien|work=[[NBC News]]|date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> Reflecting on his defeat during a conference call to hundreds of fundraisers and donors a week after the election, Romney attributed the outcome to Obama's having secured the votes of specific interest groups, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, young people, and women, by offering them what Romney called "extraordinary financial gifts".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Santucci|first1=John|last2=Good|first2=Chris|last3=Walshe|first3=Shushannah|title=Everything Romney said to explain away loss|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/obamas-gifts-small-campaign-bill-clintons-thoughtsromneys-parting/story?id=17727179 |work=[[ABC News]]|date=November 15, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Ashley|title=Romney blames loss on Obama's 'gifts' to minorities and young voters|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/romney-blames-loss-on-obamas-gifts-to-minorities-and-young-voters/|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Reston|first=Maeve|title=Romney attributes loss to 'gifts' Obama gave minorities|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-romney-donors-20121115,0,1719033.story|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 15, 2012}}</ref> The remark drew heavy criticism from prominent members of the Republican party.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wallace|first=Gregory|title=Gingrich: Romney 'gifts' comment 'nuts'|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/18/gingrich-romney-gifts-comment-nuts/|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=November 18, 2012|access-date=November 18, 2012|archive-date=November 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121121161852/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/18/gingrich-romney-gifts-comment-nuts/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Falcone|first=Michael|title=Republicans Mourning for Mitt Romney? Not So Much|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/republicans-mourning-mitt-romney/story?id=17742687 |work=[[ABC News]]|date=November 17, 2012}}</ref>